It will be well

Panic. Maybe it seems more so in the days and times we live in. Maybe it’s more of a “western” thing. The moments, be they big or small, of thinking things are all about to come crashing down. Overwhelm ensues. Anxiety hits. You feel like giving up. You feel like you just can’t handle any more.

And then you take a breath.

One thing I have truly noticed and taken to heart here in Kenya is the response from Kenyans, particularly Christian women, when I tell them bad or hard news.

If someone in our family is sick…”It will be well,” or “You will be well.”

If there is trouble back home…”It will be well.”

If we have to make sudden changes to our plans…”It will be well.”

As I ask for specific prayer…”It will be well.”

I’m embarrassed to say I used to sort of excuse this as a form of naivety or just talk. I would think the person wanted everything to be well, and it was just something nice to say. Maybe equivalent to “bless your heart” in the South. But after living here almost two years, I have now come to know I was wrong. I think I was the naive one.

There is such a deep sense of trust in that “it will be well” statement. It partly comes, I think, from these mamas seeing so many hard things and suffering in their lives. It most definitely comes from abiding in Christ, their Savior and Lord. Abiding means “to dwell.” How do we dwell in Christ so completely that we are not easily shaken, not easily rocked, not easily panicked when those stressful moments come? How can we live like “it will be well” even if the outcome we want or think is best isn’t what happens?

I am learning. And I’m getting plenty of practice lately, it feels like. I just came through my 4th illness (different ones) in 4 weeks. And this last one was really rough. There have been panic moments of feeling like my body couldn’t take anymore, and wondering how on earth I would protect the people around me from getting sick.

And then there is just life. The chaos of a house full of kids. The noise. The mess. The wondering if they’re going to turn out okay. Sometimes there can be panic moments of feeling like we’re not doing enough.

But…it will be well. I don’t think it’s just a way of positive thinking. It’s deeper than that.

God’s word tells us in the Psalms that He is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. It also says that He never slumbers or sleeps. He is always working. He never stops. As Christ followers we can trust that we live in His unshakeable kingdom. He is on the throne; He is sovereign over our lives. We partner with Him, we make our choices, but His will and purposes will always prevail.*

So, I am learning from these wise and faith-filled Kenyan women. It will be well.

*Scriptures referenced: Psalms 145, 121, Hebrews 12, Psalm 47:8 and Proverbs 16:9